US7997578B2

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US7997578B2
Application number: US12/843,460
Authority: US
Inventors: Yusuke Saito; Junya Kato
Original assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
Current assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
Priority date: 2009-08-03
Filing date: 2010-07-26
Publication date: 2011-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 2030-07-26
Also published as: JP5581622B2; US20110024975A1; JP2011032045A

Abstract

A recording apparatus has a stacker that receives a discharged recording medium. An engagement mechanism removably attaches the stacker to a discharge section of the apparatus and includes a first engagement portion provided in the discharge section; a second engagement portion, on the stacker, that engages with the first engagement portion; and a guidance portion that guides the second engagement portion into the first engagement portion and extends in an upward direction. The second engagement portion is biased, by a biasing unit on the stacker, in the upward direction so as to move in the guidance portion. When an external force that opposes the biasing force is applied to the stacker and that external force is released, the second engagement portion rises due to the biasing force, is guided by the guidance portion, and engages with the first engagement portion.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-180370 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to recording apparatuses.

2. Description of Related Art

Ink jet printers, such as that disclosed in JP-A-2008-281549 and described below, are known as recording apparatuses that carry out recording processes on a recording medium.

JP-A-2008-281549 discloses a large-format ink jet printer (LFP), which is capable of, for example, performing printing processes using comparatively large-size recording paper (for example, JIS A1, JIS B1, and so on) as the recording medium. This ink jet printer includes a recording head capable of moving back and forth in a sub direction, which is orthogonal to the transport path of the recording paper, and the printing process is carried out by ejecting ink onto the recording paper from this recording head. Printing paper that has undergone the printing process is then continuously discharged from the printer, falls into a receptacle (a stacker) provided therebelow, and is held in a stacked state.

Incidentally, there are two types for the stacker provided in such ink jet printers, or a rear type, such as that disclosed in JP-A-2008-281549, and a front type, which is the opposite of the rear type. With a rear type stacker, the recording surface side of the paper, onto which the recording process has been carried out, rubs against the stacker as the paper is stacked, and thus there is the concern that abrasions and so on will occur in the recording surface. Accordingly, from the standpoint of protecting this recording surface, it is preferable to employ a front type stacker; however, it is necessary to attach front type stackers to the front side of the ink jet printer, which makes it necessary to provide a wide clearance. Thus, in the past, a system in which the stacker is attached to the ink jet printer only when the stacker is necessary has been employed, but this too has been problematic in that attaching such a large-size stacker is an extremely complicated process.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a recording apparatus to which a large-sized stacker can be attached with ease.

An aspect of the invention is a recording apparatus having a discharge section that discharges a recording medium that has undergone a recording process and a stacker that receives the recording medium discharged from the discharge section, the recording apparatus including an engagement mechanism that attaches the stacker to the discharge section in a removable state. The engagement mechanism has a first engagement portion provided in the discharge section; a second engagement portion, provided in the stacker, that engages with the first engagement portion; and a guidance portion that guides the second engagement portion into the first engagement portion and extends in at least an upward direction. The second engagement portion is biased, by a biasing unit provided in the stacker, in the upward direction so as to move in the guidance portion; and when an external force that opposes the biasing force of the biasing unit is applied to the stacker and that external force is released, the second engagement portion rises due to the biasing force, is guided by the guidance portion, and engages with the first engagement portion.

By employing such a configuration, according to the invention, the second engagement portion provided in the stacker is caused to rise and engage with the first engagement portion provided in the discharge section using the biasing force that opposes the external force applied to the stacker, thus positioning and attaching the stacker to the discharge section.

According to another aspect of the invention, the stacker includes a frame structure provided with a first grounded frame, one end of which makes contact with the ground, and a second grounded frame, one end of which makes contact with the ground, that intersect with each other, the grounded frames being connected to each other so as to be capable of freely rotating central to an axis at the point of intersection; and the biasing unit includes an elastic structure member, constructed between the first grounded frame and the second grounded frame, that instigates the biasing force so that the other end of the first grounded frame rises.

By employing such a configuration, according to the invention, when the external force is applied to the frame structure from above, the frame structure is capable of moving so that the first grounded frame and the second grounded frame open. When a space opens between the first grounded frame and the second grounded frame, a tensile force arises in the elastic structure member erected therebetween, and the opposing force (that is, the restitution force) of the elastic structure member acts between the first grounded frame and the second grounded frame. By using this restitution force, the second engagement portion provided in the stacker is caused to rise and engage with the first engagement portion provided in the discharge section, thus positioning and attaching the stacker to the discharge section.

According to another aspect of the invention, the second engagement portion is provided in one of the first grounded frame and the second grounded frame.

By employing such a configuration, according to the invention, when one of the grounded frames is moved by applying an external force from thereabove, the other grounded frame also moves at the same time due to the effects of the frame structure, and it is thus possible to easily move the second engagement portion by operating the grounded frame on the opposite side of the grounded frame in which the second engagement portion is provided.

According to another aspect of the invention, an insertion section of the guidance portion, into which the second engagement portion is inserted, is located at a predetermined height; and the elastic structure member includes a regulation portion that regulates the rotational amount of the second grounded frame relative to the first grounded frame so that the height of the second engagement portion when the external force is applied thereto is the same as the height of the insertion section.

By employing such a configuration, according to the invention, the regulation portion regulates the amount by which the stacker is depressed when the external force is applied to the stacker; as a result, the insertion section of the guidance portion and the second engagement portion are at the same height when the stacker has been depressed, making it possible to smoothly insert the second engagement portion into the guidance portion.

According to another aspect of the invention, the insertion section of the guidance portion, into which the second engagement portion is inserted, is formed so that the width of the guidance portion gradually increases toward an entry side into which the second engagement portion enters.

By employing such a configuration, according to the invention, it is easy to insert the second engagement portion into the insertion section, and it is possible to smoothly guide the second engagement portion along the guidance portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink jet printer according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a stacker according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a folded-up state of a stacker according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a stacker according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state prior to an attachment frame and a boss being engaged with each other, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state after the attachment frame and the boss have been engaged with each other, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a lockstay provided in a stacker according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a lockstay in a broken-down state according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the IX-IX line shown inFIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the X-X line shown inFIG. 7.

FIGS. 11A to 11C are diagrams illustrating the attachment of a stacker to a discharge section as time passes, according to an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of a recording apparatus according to the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that in the drawings used in the following descriptions, the scale of the various constituent elements has been changed in order to achieve sizes that are more visibly recognizable. This embodiment discusses, as the recording apparatus according to the invention, a large-format ink jet printer (LFP), which is capable of, for example, performing printing processes using comparatively large-size recording paper (for example, JIS A1, JIS B1, and so on) as the recording medium.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of anink jet printer1 according to an embodiment of the invention.

Theink jet printer1 includes amain printer unit10 that performs a printing process on recording paper P. Themain printer unit10 is supported at a predetermined height by a pair ofleg portions10a. Themain printer unit10 includes atransport path11 that transports the recording paper P at a slanted angle of approximately 60° and arecording head12 that is capable of moving back and forth in a sub direction of thetransport path11, which is the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the recording paper P. A spindle capable of holding a paper roll R is provided in a rear section of themain printer unit10. Thetransport path11 includes multiple transport rollers (not shown) that transport the recording paper P by pinching the recording paper P and undergoing rotational driving.

Therecording head12 is mounted in a carriage (not shown) capable of moving in the sub direction of thetransport path11. Therecording head12 includes multiple nozzle rows, and the configuration is such that inks of predetermined colors (for example, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K)) can be ejected from respective nozzle rows. Therecording head12 executes a recording process, in which information such as predetermined images, text, and the like is recorded onto a recording surface of the recording paper P that is transported along thetransport path11 by ejecting ink onto the recording surface. The recording paper P that has undergone the recording process is discharged from adischarge section20 of which the end portion of thetransport path11 is configured. Note that in the following descriptions, the front side in the discharge direction of the recording paper P is sometimes referred to as the “leading side”, whereas the rear side in the discharge direction of the recording paper P is sometimes referred to as the “following side”.

Theink jet printer1 includes astacker30 that receives the recording paper P that has been discharged from thedischarge section20, and anengagement mechanism40 that attaches thestacker30 to thedischarge section20 in a detachable state. Characteristic configurations of thestacker30 and theengagement mechanism40 according to the invention will be described hereinafter.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of thestacker30 according to this embodiment of the invention.FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a folded-up state of thestacker30 according to this embodiment of the invention.FIG. 4 is a side view of thestacker30 according to this embodiment of the invention.

Thestacker30 is a front type stacker that holds the recording paper P discharged continuously from thedischarge section20 of themain printer unit10 in a stacked state. As shown inFIG. 2, thestacker30 includes aframe structure34 provided with a first groundedframe31 and a second groundedframe32 that intersect with each other, and linkingshafts33 provided in the positions where the two frames intersect so as to link the frames in a state in which both frames can freely rotate central to an axis that extends in the horizontal direction thereof. The first groundedframe31 has an approximately quadrangular square shape, whereas the second groundedframe32 is generally shaped like a square with one side open. Thestacker30 is configured so as to be capable of being folded up when not in use by rotating the first groundedframe31 and the second groundedframe32 central to the linking shafts33 (seeFIG. 3).

Returning toFIG. 2,multiple band members35, which support the recording paper P from the surface opposite to the recording surface, are erected between anupper frame section31aof the first groundedframe31 and anupper frame section32aof the second groundedframe32 at predetermined intervals. Theband members35 are arranged at an interval that is capable of handling multiple types of recording paper P, and in this embodiment, fourband members35 are provided. Theband members35 are configured of a flexible high-polymer film material, and as shown inFIG. 4, are configured so as to sag between theupper frame section31aand theupper frame section32a, thus forming a slight inclination, which reduces the discharge speed of the recording paper P that has been discharged. Meanwhile, ahook36 is provided in theupper frame section31a, and is configured so as to suppress the recording paper P from escaping.

Theengagement mechanism40 includes attachment frames (first engagement portions)41 provided on each side of thedischarge section20, as shown inFIG. 1, and bosses (second engagement portions)42, which engage with the attachment frames41, provided on each side of theupper frame section32aof thestacker30, as shown inFIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state prior to theattachment frame41 and theboss42 being engaged with each other, according to this embodiment of the invention.FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state after theattachment frame41 and theboss42 have been engaged with each other, according to this embodiment of the invention.

The attachment frames41 are each anchored torespective leg portions10a, and extend a predetermined distance in the forward direction from those anchoring positions. As shown inFIG. 5, eachattachment frame41 includes a guidance groove (guidance portion)43 that guides a correspondingboss42. Eachguidance groove43, meanwhile, includes a firsthorizontal groove43athat extends in the horizontal direction toward the rear side from aninsertion section43A into which theboss42 is inserted; a slopedgroove43b, connected to the end of the firsthorizontal groove43a, that slopes upward as the groove progresses toward the rear side; a secondhorizontal groove43c, connected to the end of the slopedgroove43b, that extends in the horizontal direction toward the rear side; and avertical groove43d, connected to the end of the secondhorizontal groove43c, that extends in the vertical direction. Theinsertion section43A of eachguidance groove43 configures the starting side of the corresponding firsthorizontal groove43a(the entry side of the guidance groove43), and has a shape in which the width of the firsthorizontal groove43agradually expands as the groove progresses toward the starting side.

Thebosses42 are provided so as to protrude a predetermined distance on both sides of theupper frame section32aof thestacker30, and eachboss42 is configured so as to engage with theattachment frame41 by being guided along a correspondingguidance groove43. To be more specific, as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, the configuration is such that eachboss42 is introduced into theguidance groove43 from the expandedinsertion section43A, passes through the firsthorizontal groove43aand the slopedgroove43b, and upon reaching the end of the secondhorizontal groove43c, is biased upward by a lockstay (elastic structure member)50, serving as a biasing unit (discussed later), thus engaging with the end of thevertical groove43d.

Thelockstays50 are, as shown inFIG. 2, constructed between respectiveside frame sections31bof the first groundedframe31 andside frame sections32bof the second groundedframe32.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of thelockstay50 provided in thestacker30 according to this embodiment of the invention.FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating thelockstay50 in a broken-down state according to this embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the IX-IX line shown inFIG. 7.FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the X-X line shown inFIG. 7.

Eachlockstay50 includes, as shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, afirst slide frame51 and asecond slide frame52 that are combined so as to be capable of freely sliding relative to each other in the lengthwise direction. One end of thefirst slide frame51 is affixed to theside frame section31bin a freely-rotatable state via ascrew51a. One end of thesecond slide frame52 is affixed, along with acover frame53, to theside frame section32bin a freely-rotatable state via ascrew52a. Thecover frame53 is configured so as to cover a slide elongatedhole52b,provided in thesecond slide frame52, into which thescrew52aslides when thestacker30 is folded up, and so that thefirst slide frame51 and thesecond slide frame52 can slide freely.

Eachlockstay50 also includes, as shown inFIG. 8, acoil spring54 that biases thefirst slide frame51 and thesecond slide frame52 so as to constrict in the sliding direction, and aregulation portion55 that regulates the slide stroke of thefirst slide frame51 and thesecond slide frame52 to within a predetermined range. One end of thecoil spring54 is anchored to astop shaft56 provided in thefirst slide frame51, whereas the other end of thecoil spring54 is anchored to abent portion57 in which part of thesecond slide frame52 is bent toward the inside thereof. Theregulation portion55 includes aslide shaft58 anchored to thefirst slide frame51, and a pair of slide elongatedholes59, provided in thesecond slide frame52, in which theslide shaft58 slides. The slide elongatedholes59 extend in a predetermined distance in the lengthwise direction of thesecond slide frame52.

As shown inFIGS. 9 and 10, thelockstay50 is usually in a state in which theslide shaft58 is located at oneend portion59A of the slide elongatedholes59 due to the bias of thecoil spring54. Thelockstay50 is configured so that during this state, the degree to which theframe structure34 is opened is regulated so that the height of thebosses42 provided in thestacker30 and the height of the end of thevertical grooves43dare in a relationship in which the respective heights are equal. Meanwhile, when an external force is applied to theframe structure34 and theslide shaft58 is positioned at theother end portion59B of the slide elongatedholes59, the degree to which theframe structure34 is opened is regulated so that the height of thebosses42 provided in thestacker30 and the height of theinsertion section43A (firsthorizontal groove43a) are in a relationship in which the respective heights are equal.

Next, operations for attaching thestacker30 to thedischarge section20 will be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 11A to 11C.

FIGS. 11A to 11C are diagrams illustrating the attachment of thestacker30 to thedischarge section20 as time passes, according to this embodiment of the invention.

As shown inFIG. 11A, first, a user applies force, from above, onto theupper frame section31aof the first groundedframe31 in thestacker30. When this force is applied to theframe structure34 from above, theframe structure34 is capable of moving so that the first groundedframe31 and the second groundedframe32 open. With thestacker30 configured as described thus far, when a force is applied to the first groundedframe31 from above and the first groundedframe31 is moved, the second groundedframe32 also moves simultaneously therewith due to the effects of theframe structure34; accordingly, thebosses42 can be moved with ease by operating the first groundedframe31 on the opposite side of the second groundedframe32 in which thebosses42 are provided.

When a space opens up between the first groundedframe31 and the second groundedframe32, a tensile force of thelockstays50 arranged at the space is applied. Due to this tensile force, when thelockstays50 extend, theslide shafts58, which are located at the oneend portions59A of the slide elongatedholes59 due to the bias of the coil springs54, move toward theother end portions59B of the slide elongatedholes59 while resisting the bias and causing the coil springs54 to elastically deform. When theslide shafts58 are located at theother end portions59B of the slide elongatedholes59, thelockstays50 stop extending. In this state, thelockstays50 regulate the opening of theframe structure34 so that the height of thebosses42 provided in thestacker30 and the height of theinsertion sections43A are in a relationship in which the respective heights are equal.

Next, as shown inFIG. 11B, the user advances thestacker30 while still applying pressure from above so that thebosses42 enter into theguidance grooves43 provided in the attachment frames41. At this time, the amount of depression caused by the application of force to thestacker30 is regulated by theregulation portions55; as a result, the height of theinsertion sections43A in theguidance grooves43 and the height of thebosses42 are the same when thestacker30 is depressed, making it possible to smoothly insert thebosses42 into theguidance grooves43. Meanwhile, because theinsertion sections43A of theguidance grooves43 are formed so that their widths gradually expand as the grooves progress toward the entry sides into which thebosses42 enter, thebosses42 can easily enter into theinsertion sections43A even if the height of thebosses42 as regulated by theregulation portion55 is not highly precise.

Once thebosses42 have entered into the firsthorizontal grooves43afrom theinsertion section43A due to the advancement of thestacker30, the user stops applying force to thestacker30 from above. When this force is released, thebosses42 are biased in the upward direction by thelockstays50, and as thestacker30 advances further, thebosses42 pass through the firsthorizontal grooves43aand thesloped grooves43b, rising along thevertical grooves43dfrom the ends of the secondhorizontal grooves43c. To be more specific, when the force applied by the user is released, thelockstays50 contract due to the restitution force of the coil springs54. When thelockstays50 contract, theslide shafts58 located at theother end portions59B of the slide elongatedholes59 move toward the oneend portions59A of the slide elongatedholes59 due to the biasing force of the coil springs54. When theslide shafts58 are located at the oneend portions59A of the slide elongatedholes59, thelockstays50 stop contracting. In this state, thelockstays50 regulate the opening of theframe structure34 so that the height of thebosses42 provided in thestacker30 and the height of the ends of thevertical grooves43dare in a relationship in which the respective heights are equal.

In other words, when the force applied by the user is released, thebosses42 rise along thevertical grooves43dand make contact with the ends of the guidance grooves43 (the ends of thevertical grooves43d), as shown inFIG. 11C. Through this, the attachment frames41 and thebosses42 engage with each other, and the positioning and attachment of thestacker30 to thedischarge section20 is complete. Note that the engagement state of the attachment frames41 and thebosses42 can easily be visually confirmed because the attachment frames41 extend a predetermined distance in the forward direction from theleg portions10a, and thus it can be confirmed whether or not the engagement is complete.

Meanwhile, the reverse of the procedure described thus far is employed when removing thestacker30 from thedischarge section20. In other words, the state of engagement between the attachment frames41 and thebosses42 and easily be released by retracting thestacker30 while applying, from above, a force to theupper frame section31aof the first groundedframe31 in thestacker30. Furthermore, space can be conserved when thestacker30 is not in use by folding up the removedstacker30 as shown inFIG. 3.

Accordingly, theink jet printer1 according to the aforementioned embodiment has thedischarge section20 that discharges the recording paper P that has undergone a recording process and thestacker30 that receives the recording paper P discharged from thedischarge section20, and includes theengagement mechanism40 that attaches thestacker30 to thedischarge section20 in a removable state. Theengagement mechanism40 has the attachment frames41 provided in thedischarge section20; thebosses42, provided in thestacker30, that engage with the corresponding attachment frames41; and theguidance grooves43 that guide thebosses42 into the corresponding attachment frames41 and extend in at least an upward direction. Thebosses42 are biased, by thelockstays50 provided in thestacker30, in the upward direction so as to move in theguidance grooves43; and when an external force that opposes the biasing force of thelockstays50 is applied to thestacker30 and that external force is released, thebosses42 rise due to the biasing force, are guided by the correspondingguidance grooves43, and engage with the corresponding attachment frames41, thus positioning and attaching thestacker30 to thedischarge section20.

Through this, according to this embodiment, it is possible to achieve theink jet printer1, in which the large-sized stacker30 can easily be attached to thedischarge section20.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described thus far with reference to the drawings, the invention is not intended to be limited to the aforementioned embodiment. The forms, combinations, and so on of the various constituent elements illustrated in the aforementioned embodiment are merely exemplary, and many variations based on design requirements and the like are possible without departing from the essential spirit of the invention.

For example, although the aforementioned embodiment described an example in which the recording apparatus is theink jet printer1, the recording apparatus is not limited to an ink jet printer, and may instead be a device such as a copier, a facsimile machine, or the like.

Claims

1. A recording apparatus having a discharge section that discharges a recording medium that has undergone a recording process and a stacker that receives the recording medium discharged from the discharge section, the recording apparatus comprising:

an engagement mechanism that attaches the stacker to the discharge section in a removable state,

wherein the engagement mechanism includes:

a first engagement portion provided in the discharge section;

a second engagement portion, provided in the stacker, that engages with the first engagement portion;

a guidance portion that guides the second engagement portion into the first engagement portion and extends in at least an upward direction, and

a biasing unit that is provided in the stacker and biases the second engagement portion in the upward direction so as to move in the guidance portion with the stacker grounded; and

when an external force that opposes the biasing force of the biasing unit is applied to the stacker and that external force is released, the second engagement portion rises due to the biasing force, is guided by the guidance portion, and engages with the first engagement portion.

2. The recording apparatus according toclaim 1,

wherein the stacker includes a frame structure provided with a first grounded frame, one end of which makes contact with the ground, and a second grounded frame, one end of which makes contact with the ground, that intersect with each other, the grounded frames being connected to each other so as to be capable of freely rotating central to an axis at the point of intersection; and

the biasing unit includes an elastic structure member, constructed between the first grounded frame and the second grounded frame, that instigates the biasing force so that the other end of the first grounded frame rises.

3. The recording apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the second engagement portion is provided in one of the first grounded frame and the second grounded frame.

4. The recording apparatus according toclaim 2,

wherein an insertion section of the guidance portion, into which the second engagement portion is inserted, is located at a predetermined height; and

the elastic structure member includes a regulation portion that regulates the rotational amount of the second grounded frame relative to the first grounded frame so that the height of the second engagement portion when the external force is applied thereto is the same as the height of the insertion section.

5. The recording apparatus according toclaim 4,

wherein the insertion section of the guidance portion, into which the second engagement portion is inserted, is formed so that the width of the guidance portion gradually increases toward an entry side into which the second engagement portion enters.

6. The, recording apparatus according toclaim 1,

wherein the guidance portion has an insertion section that is arranged at a position lower than the first engagement portion.